The Australian Government has invested $31.2 million to develop a new framework to deliver virtual nursing support in aged care.
Amplar Home Health Pty Ltd will develop and test a virtual nursing framework in up to 30 residential aged care homes.
The project will focus on supporting residential aged care providers in rural and remote areas, and those that support older people of First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The project is anticipated to run from March 2025 until 30 June 2027.
The trial will explore how virtual nursing services can support older people in aged care homes to access consistent, high-quality, care when and where they need it.
While not a replacement for face-to-face care, the virtual nursing in aged care project seeks to build evidence of how virtual care services can further enhance the provision of care, providing residential aged care homes and on-site staff with access to additional clinical expertise to support the delivery of high-quality care to older people.
La Trobe University will conduct an evaluation of the project. The evaluation will consider the impact of virtual care on clinical outcomes, workforce, and service sustainability.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells:
"The Albanese Government is committed to building and strengthening a valued, supported and skilled aged care workforce to meet the needs of older people.
“Under the Albanese Government there is now a registered nurse onsite in aged care homes 99% of the time and our requirement for 24/7 nursing is not changing.
“Last year, the government released a Professional FrameWork to support the aged care workforce and encouraging innovation is one of the 8 goals we are prioritising.
“This investment demonstrates how we are pursuing innovation in aged care for the benefit of older people and to support the workforce in thin markets."